Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 17, 2002

Lowe signed for $950,000, or more than three times his $300,000 salary with the White Sox last season. Brown, who missed most of the 2001 season with a shoulder injury, signed for $450,000, and Nunez got $550,000.

Brown made $380,000 and Nunez made $275,000 last season.

The Pirates still haven't reached terms with outfielder Armando Rios, who was offered $750,000 but wants $1.15 million. Rios tore knee ligaments in only his second game with Pittsburgh after being traded by the Giants in late July and missed the rest of the season.

Lowe, one of three pitchers acquired Dec. 13 from the White Sox for right-hander Todd Ritchie, was 9-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 45 games for Chicago. He will compete for a spot in the rotation during spring training.

Brown will try to regain his center fielder's job after limited by a shoulder injury to eight games last season. He was an unexpected surprise in 2000, hitting .315 and driving in 28 runs in 103 games after becoming the Pirates' leadoff hitter.

Nunez played his first full major league season in 2001, batting .262 with one homer and 21 RBIs. He made 33 starts at shortstop and 31 at second base.